Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name Mechanics & Farmers Bank, Durham, North Carolina, are reportedly in circulation

Mechanics & Farmers Bank, Durham, North Carolina, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 053100452, which is assigned to Mechanics & Farmers Bank. The items are similar to authentic cashier's checks. A security feature statement is embedded in a darkened top border and along the bottom border between two padlocks. A box contains the dollar amount.

Authentic cashier's checks are light gray with burgundy overtones and have a four-sided design border. A padlock icon and security feature statement are to the right of "DOLLARS." The restrictive statement "TWO SIGNATURES REQUIRED IF OVER $1,000" appears above two signature lines.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items can be modified and that additional variations may be presented.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Harold G. Sellars
Senior Vice President and Security Officer
Mechanics & Farmers Bank
2634 Durham Chapel Hill Boulevard
Durham, North Carolina 27707
Telephone: (919) 687-7800, extension 819
Fax: (919) 687-7821
E-mail: Harold.sellars@mfboline.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-3054, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Questions related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2010/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Sandra L. ThompsonDirector
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection